A Nato Chinook helicopter has been shot down by Taliban insurgents, killing 30 American troops in one of the worst single incidents in Afghanistan.

The aircraft was hit by a rocket-propelled grenade and crashed in the Tangi valley of Wardak province, west of the Afghan capital, Kabul.

A condolence statement from Hamid Karzai said 31 Americans had been killed - including one interpreter - and seven Afghans, making it the bloodiest incident for the United States and the coalition in the decade-long campaign.

Coalition head quarters in Kabul confirmed a helicopter had crashed in eastern Afghanistan, but a spokesman would not comment on casualty figures.

Sources said the release of more information was being delayed by the difficulties in informing the next of kin.

“[The coalition] is still in the process of assessing the circumstances to determine the facts of the incident, reporting indicates there was enemy activity in the area.

“Additional details will be released as appropriate.”

Mr Karzai’s statement said: “The president of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan Hamid Karzai expressed condolences over a Nato helicopter crash and the deaths of 31 members of US special forces."

Wardak is viewed as a strategically critical province guarding the western “gate” to Kabul and has seen heavy Taliban infiltration for several years.

Local reports said the helicopter had been taking part in a night raid targeting insurgent commanders. At least eight insurgents were killed.

A spokesman for the Taliban, Zabiullah Mujaheed, told the New York Times insurgents shot down the helicopter around 11pm on Friday local time and that eight militants were killed in the fight that continued after the helicopter fell.

“The fresh reports from the site tells us that there are still Americans doing search operations for the bodies and pieces of the helicopter are on the ground,” Mr. Mujaheed said.</span>

LWW

08-07-2011, 05:19 AM

Where is the investigation on all of this?

This regime has repeatedly been lose with data on what are covert operations and covert agents ... yet after years of bleating from the left about the Bush regime not outing a non covert agent, on this we have silence.